The following is based on a battalion AAR wrapping up an NTC rotation.
It is in a sustain/improve format separated roughly by BOS.
Biggest issue: COMMO
Need enough radio nets at all key C2 nodes (BSA, TAC, CTCP, UMCP) and not just at the TOC
Train everyone on SINCGARS and frequency hopping
use EVERY SINGLE TIME you go to the field as sustainment training, even with manpacks
Radio COMEXs to exercise the RTOs at the C2 nodes so they can learn to pick out what`s
relevant to them and what`s just chatter.
CSS integration with brigade nets needs to be trained and scheduled. If a report is due
at 1200, does that mean that 14 different subunits are calling at 1200 to report?
Practice and rehearse RETRANS missions, especially as they relate to recon/scouts
What do you do in the absence of commo? How often is that discussed at a rehearsal?
Commander`s intent becomes vital here so that you know what to do if he can`t tell you.
Train Crews to manage their own internal commo, such as swapping out boom mikes.
C-3/Battle Tracking/ TOC OPS
When to disseminate graphics? If you can get the brigade graphics/PLs copied in time
to go out with the WARNORD, do it!
If there`s a lull in the battlefield traffic on the O&I net, start getting updates from subunits
Also, if there`s a lull on the BDE net, send a BN update, so they don`t have to ask later.
Exercise the NCO at battle-tracking - get the officers out of the way!
Standardized reporting and routing: radio reports 10sec or less!
Always hand the same types of reports to the same people: SPOTREP to S-2, slant to S-3Air
R&S info should get pushed out onto EVERY net. CTCP is alternate command post and needs that
intel over the A&L net to track it themselves; they may not hear it on CMD/O&I.
INTEL
Sustain -
Enemy SITEMPs and IPB
Improve -
R&S Planning and Execution: not enough redundancy; involve SCT PLT leaders; tie in FSO
Is R&S planning terrain- or enemy-focused.
Link R&S to BDE - pass info up and down the channel
MANEUVER
Sustain -
PLT and Crew-level expertise and warrior spirit
Improve -
TF-level operations: training with slice elements, JANUS/BBS exercises
Synchronization of ALL BOS - get the FSO in the fight and make him understand the plan
Situational awareness of the soldiers - theater of war briefings
FIRE SUPPORT
Sustain -
Observer calls for fire (the intent, not the execution)
Mortar platoon operations
Improve -
Observer calls for fire (how to call fire on the radio)
FSO integration in planning - MUST understand maneuver plan and support it
CDR define and establish EFST list: only 2-4 items with times, in a sep. annex
TIMELY fires - rounds landing too late are no good
Have pre-planned/registered smoke/suppression targets on templated enemy positions
Complete distribution of F/S target list (CTCP never got one, but had commo with FA BN)
M/CM/S
Sustain -
Platoon & crew proficiency
Can-do attitude
Improve -
Accurate and timely obstacle plan based on CDR`s guidance
Situational awareness as TOC based on timeline of ENGR work
ADA
Sustain -
Killed more ground vehicles than some tank platoons!
Improve -
Integrate PL into TF planning and let PSG run the platoon between missions
TF knowledge of ADA weapons/capabilities
Situational awareness by ADA crews of TF maneuver plan
CSS
Sustain -
UMCP operations
LOGPAC operations
Medical care of soldiers
Improve -
Fix forward by pushing maint crews from UMCP to CO/TM BPs
Yellow-1 reports consolidated as they come in rather than 5 minutes before due
CTCP link to BSA - dedicated radios at FTCP, personnel accounting at BSA/C-MED
BATTLE COMMAND
Sustain -
Battle tracking
NCO expertise at the TOC
Improve -
MDMP timeliness and utility (ie, don`t waste time rewriting a mission from your playbook)
Synchronizing events on battlefield - handoff of F/S from scouts to lead CO/TM, MTR smoke
CO/TM commo with TOC, not just CDR
TOC updates to CDR during the battle
As an aside, this BN CDR`s assessment was that the MDMP was great and the staff did well.
Actually, the MDMP typically went until 2 hours before mission execution
The wargames were directed at single courses of action instead of addressing branches/sequels
The S1/S4 were rarely involved in the wargame, and only occasionally in the planning
The XO never established a planning timeline or guided the staff through the steps of MDMP
FSO was never ready for whatever step of MDMP was being conducted